Improvement in portable fences



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN BRENEMAN, OF MOUNT JOY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLEVFENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,695, dated July 31, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BEENEMAN, of Mount Joy, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved or simplified mode of constructin g a Portable Fence; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of three divers kindsof panels or sections of a fence united; Fig. 2, the joinings of the same enlarged in profile. Fig. 3 shows the application of said portable fence.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a portable fence .that is simple in its construct-ion, readily set up and taken down, and will resist all ordinary winds and circumstances likely to overturn fences, and admirably adapted for fencing off a portion of a field for grazing purposes.

The construction is so simple that anyfarmer can make the panels and use them.

Section l, Figs. 1, 2, shows 'a plain rail at top and bottom, R R2, with a short piece, S It, at the` ends covering each two pales, c c2, leaving an open slot or space betweenthe pales c c2.

Section 2 shows a similar panel. The ends of rails It R2 are closed with a plug, P. and made so as to fit in between the rails R' R2 of section 1, in which (section 2) the outer space is filled in with a plug, P, the size of a pale, leaving a central lozenge-shaped opening, K, for the key-piece K when crossed, as shown by the profile view in Fig. 2.

Section 3 shows a plain panel with the end pales on the reverse side, c3 and c4. All the rest of the palings are marked c, and are nailed to the rails in the ordinary manner.

Two sections alternating one with the other are only needed-viz., a plain section like section 3 and either section 1 or section 2 with the rails, so as either to overlap or underlap the rails of section 3,

When any desirable number of panels are made all that is necessary is to have the keypales K adapted to the slotted space between the short piece SR and rails It R2, and by setting up one panel or section with the double ends, either section 1 or section 2, then sliding the one end of the plain section or panel 3 partly over and under or between the double-ended rails R R2 and S R, and locking them with the key-pale K, one side of which is beveled, so that when drawn as nearly to a straight line as possible (still forming an obtuse angle) the key will firmly set and hold the two panels, when anotherpanel provided with the double ends is afXed in like manner to the other end of the plane panel or section 3, and so alternately forming a zigzag line of fencing similar to what is commonly called a worm or stake7 fence. Thus a corner or portion ofa field can be easily fenced off for grazing purposes, and readily removed or changed as occasion may demand, and when no longer required will pack close under a shelter t0 protect it against the weather. Fig. 3 shows a corner of a field so fenced off with cattle therein.

Having tested my invention it has proved so highly satisfactory to myself for its rmness and efficacy, as well as to all persons who saw it, that I have been urged upon to obtain Letters Patent. I am aware, however, that various kinds of portable fences are patented, such as N o. 31,667, which formsa zigzag fence, as also No. 33,792, (the first has notched and reverselynotched boards or strips with a key or wedge, and the latter connects with a hook and staple,) besides other inventions differing in construction, all of which I disclaim.

I am not aware of any ever being made with simple short end pieces, S R, to one panel and a plane panel with the outer boards or pickets c3 c4 on the reverse side of the rail to the rest of the boards, pickets, or pales c of the same panel, whether made with a pale, c', or plug P at the end, as shown in sections 1 and 2, respectively, in combination therewith, and held by a pale or key, K, bev eled to bind the sections firmly together when inserted .between the overlapping ends in the manner shown.

What I claim as my invention, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination and construction of the two panels of a fence, so that the upper and lower rails, R R2, of the one will pass between those of the other, the ends of the rails of every alternate .panel provided with a short piece, S R, forming an open space for a keyboard, K, passingthrough the overlapping ends and rmly uniting them in the manner and for the purpose shown and specified.

JOHN BRENEMAN.

W'itnesses:

WM. B. WILEY, JACOB STAUEFER.. 

